Thread: Finally got a gig!

That also should say...and that paints a vision that is the appropriate SCALE. It's a coffeeshop not the Ordway Theater--there's only so much he'd *really* want (regardless of what he thinks) and...there's only so much he can realistically expect to get. So describe some thing that is the right "size" (physical space, length, noise level), feeling (fits the character and mission of the place), and budget for the venue, but that is still attractive, fun, and good for business.

Originally Posted by aamel_MirahAmmal

It seems nearly everyone thinks they know some musicians who play belly dance music, but it's often some self-taught djembe-slapping "drummer" who wouldn't know a maksoum if it bit him in the a$$ and his friend the pan flute player who saw the movie "Aladin" and thinks he's got a good feel for the music now.....)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! SNORT!!!!!!!!!! You've just described 90% of the "belly dance bands" in my town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'scuse me while I go roll around on the floor...

Originally Posted by nisaasaintlouis

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! SNORT!!!!!!!!!! You've just described 90% of the "belly dance bands" in my town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'scuse me while I go roll around on the floor...

It's funny...because it's true. .w.:

Originally Posted by aamel_MirahAmmal

It's funny...because it's true. .w.:

Hey, it's like the old "monkey with a typewriter producing Shakespeare" bit. So, if you had a room full of untrained, tabla-slappin' rejects from your local drum circle, would they eventually produce "Sahara Saidi"?

Sorry, jackin' the dang thread...

Originally Posted by nisaasaintlouis

Hey, it's like the old "monkey with a typewriter producing Shakespeare" bit. So, if you had a room full of untrained, tabla-slappin' rejects from your local drum circle, would they eventually produce "Sahara Saidi"?

Sorry, jackin' the dang thread...

..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,..cr.:..l;,..l;,..l;,..l; ,..l;,

I want to toss in my LOL for Mirah's gem! ..l;,..l;,

This is the thing. They are a large coffeeshop. Their purpose isn't actually to be a coffeeshop but a live music venue that happens to serve coffee as a reason to be there. They pride themselves on all live music all the time. When we first spoke, he said 'we usually have bands that play original music, and dancers perform to CDs'. I will grant him he at least had a vague idea of what bellydance was as well. I told him 'well, the dances are original'...however, my former dance partner (and dance major) friend said that one of the hardest things to do in the world is convince people they should pay money for dancing!

I will try the approach of being more specific. I worry, too, about the idea that everyone who drums is qualified to play bellydance music!

Well, even if you can't get a full Arabic band, you may be able to find a couple of tabla and riq players (good ones) who can do drum solos for dancers and provide some live percussion for canned music. It is amazing how much a couple of drummers can liven up recorded music if they know what they are doing.

What you need to work out: Is he paying you a set fee and you have to hire everyone else? Is he expecting you to provide all the entertainers for a cut of the door? Is he going to pay each dancer and musician himself? If he is only wiling to pay enough for the band, who will the dancers? Will the dancers perform just for tips? What exactly does he have in mind: a middle eastern band with dancers performing their music or live music and dancers with CDs during the breaks?

The typical dancer showcase is probably a format he is completely unfamiliar with. Unless he is already providing space for student groups and open mike nights, he is probably used to booking a group and not dealing with individual performers.

Originally Posted by BreaMorgiane

I want to toss in my LOL for Mirah's gem! ..l;,..l;,

This is the thing. They are a large coffeeshop. Their purpose isn't actually to be a coffeeshop but a live music venue that happens to serve coffee as a reason to be there. They pride themselves on all live music all the time. When we first spoke, he said 'we usually have bands that play original music, and dancers perform to CDs'. I will grant him he at least had a vague idea of what bellydance was as well. I told him 'well, the dances are original'...however, my former dance partner (and dance major) friend said that one of the hardest things to do in the world is convince people they should pay money for dancing!

I will try the approach of being more specific. I worry, too, about the idea that everyone who drums is qualified to play bellydance music!

Okay, here's the scoop.

The guy just emailed and agreed that it is not looking good for live music. So far we have the idea of a bellydancer/dancers, and Middle Eastern food. I think he's looking for something else to add, so as to be able to charge a cover. I explained bellydancer pay to him too.

He does still want to go forward with it, so that's good, and he did mention his concern about paying dancers (he wants them to be paid). His question was: what can we do to make this, a new thing, appealing enough to the GP to charge a cover?

Any ideas/suggestions would be great!

we have a DJ at the place I dance at, so that's another reason to charge cover. The DJ will play music throughout the night and will introduce me, get the crowd clapping, etc. They charge $5 cover

Originally Posted by Safiyah

we have a DJ at the place I dance at, so that's another reason to charge cover. The DJ will play music throughout the night and will introduce me, get the crowd clapping, etc. They charge $5 cover

As long as he's not trying to make a killing on the cover, Brea, he should be able to charge one regardless. I went to a restaurant show and spent $35 for a plate of hummus, so I think a $5 or $10 cover is very reasonable!

He and you also need to be sure to advertise! Here's one for us Bhuzzers:

HEAR YE, HEAR YE FELLOW BHUZZERS!
If you are in Brea's neck of the woods when this showcase gets off the ground, be sure to support it! Bring your dance classmates, students . . . heck, grab people off the street if you have to!

Hope this helps . . . ,r:;

Deborah

Hahaha thanks Deborah! Not sure how many bhuzzers are in my vicinity, I know a couple are a few hours away and very busy ladies! Still, thanks for the mention!

The thing about it is that while of course *I* know it is enough, the owner is not quite convinced. He's looking for a real theme type thing. I'd LOVE for this to get off the ground, and I'm THRILLED that the owner didn't even question that dancers should be paid.

A DJ sounds like a good idea, actually. Hmmm....

Brea -- shisha smoking? A presentation on today's popular music in the Arab-speaking world?

Or -- look away if you're faint-hearted, I can't believe I'm about to say this but it's highly marketable -- a 'Shake it Like Shakira' club-dancing seminar?

LAUREN! 'Shake it like Shakira'?!?!?! A student once asked me if I could teach her to dance like that, and I said 'if you start dancing like that I'm going to kick your...' ..l;,

Shisha smoking is a SUPER GREAT idea...except that our state doesn't allow indoor smoking. Believe me, I'd be the first in line for an event like that!

*surprise, Brea is a smoker*

Hi Brea,

Our state doesn't allow indoor smoking either, but we still have hookah bars because of a loophole that says if a company has x% (I think it's 80% here) of their sales that comes from tobacco they're allowed to keep it. It's made for cigar bars, really, but it worked for the hookah guys. They keep their menu to appetizers only and don't serve alcohol. The hookah is a huge draw...of course everyone's state has different laws but I'm happy to be able to smoke the shisha every once in a while :)

Originally Posted by BreaMorgiane

LAUREN! 'Shake it like Shakira'?!?!?! A student once asked me if I could teach her to dance like that, and I said 'if you start dancing like that I'm going to kick your...' ..l;,

I know, I know, I'm so ashamed.

Shisha smoking is a SUPER GREAT idea...except that our state doesn't allow indoor smoking. Believe me, I'd be the first in line for an event like that!

*surprise, Brea is a smoker*

I wondered about that. My state doesn't allow it either.

Lauren - you wondered about what? If I was a smoker? Why's that?

(and yes, I am one proudly, I feel it is a dying art, and yes I feel it is an art.)

We had lots of hookah bars that originally were excepted from the ban (this was in the Cities, not my town). So now there are all these hookah bars where nobody can smoke. That would be fine if we were in the tropics and you could smoke outdoors all year round, but in Minnesota? It's killing their businesses with a swift surety. I mean, what else does a hookah bar DO? Ya know?

Shake it like Shakira...*sigh*

Still...when there's a draw, there's a draw. I'm afraid that would certainly melt down into some kind of meat market wet t shirt contest thing, with all these college girls coming to shake it and a bunch of guys with beers coming to watch them do it. Ewwww.

Smoking is so much safer. ..l;,..l;,..l;,

LOL -- no, I wondered if your state allowed indoor smoking. Silly.

Nah, for us to enjoy ourselves in that way we have to go over the border to the wild west of Wisconsin...where I teach in the 'questionable' little town that nobody comes to unless they want to drink a lot (or smoke I guess).

Still, I'm really digging the shisha idea. I think that would be an excellent draw. The owner is thinking Sept 5 for this event...if it was shisha though the stuff would have to be smoked outside while the bellydancers were inside. Hmmm.

Maybe you can get a Moorish garden theme going with the shisha. Could be really nice.

Oooh! Fantastic, Souzan! Hm...I wonder if that would be workable. We'd probably have to use the parking lot or something (oh my toes!). It's kind of set up in a weird way.

This is great, thanks so much for the suggestions guys!

How about a belly dancing mini-lesson, followed by a brief contest in which the winner receives a prize of an inexpensive hip scarf? (ie, all the "contestants" dance at once to some bouncy Arabic pop song and you, the judge, pick the best one. Existing dancers are disqualified, of course.) The lesson would attract the women, and the opportunity to watch the women would attract the men.

Shira - that sounds great too! I will try to let the owner know all these items. I think all that would definitely attract people!

Question on the shisha idea - where would this place get the equipment, and just for one night?

I think the thing to do would be go to a shisha bar and partake or talk to the management there about the stuff. You might NOT be able to rent the hookahs but maybe buy one or two. Also find out if there is any particular special license that is needed for them. Indoor smoking is outlawed in Florida however shisha is exempted for some reason.

Maybe a tobacconer would have some to rent. Check that too. Set up some outdoor seating, potted plants, maybe some cheap imitation oriental rugs and outdoor speakers. If the managemetn doesnt want to do this, then maybe just aim for making the most of dancers, dance contest and if it goes over work on the shisha thing for next time.

Souzan

I think, like Safiya said upthread, shisha bars are exempt because a certain % of their business is tobacco. The coffee shop doing an occasional shisha night won't meet that requirement, so outside is a great idea.